Electronic shifting
- Thread starter Dozer
- Start date
marc.r
Likes Dirt
I thought top level xc events were on such well maintained tracks that there were no stray branches/rocks to cause this sort of damage?
The Duckmeister
Has a juicy midrange
Nah, still have to pedal. :wink:Surprised those e-bike blokes haven't posted in here.... Seems right up their alley
The Duckmeister
Has a juicy midrange
Apparently 2x with one shifter (dedicated Synchro setup) is the same as mechanical 2x. Rear derailleur is a little bit heavier, front derailleur somehow is a little bit lighter, shifters significantly lighter (even moreso when you can pull one out of the system), wires are lighter than cables (not sure if comparison was done with segmented or full-length outers), and battery puts a little bit in. Other configurations are only slightly heavier than mechanical equivalents.
The Duckmeister
Has a juicy midrange
You mean two or three rings.... :wink: Synchro shift means that at certain programmed (factory default, but user-adjustable via PC interface) points through the shift sequence, rather than picking the next sprocket on the cassette, the system changes chainring and simultaneously makes a corrective "backshift" at the rear to reduce the gear jump. It's switchable on the fly between manual and two Synchro sequences.
There's a charging/"E-Tube" software connection port on the head unit. PRO (Shimano's offshoot components manufacturer) has simultaneously released Di2-ready cockpit hardware which allows steerer tube battery mounting. They're onto you already. :wink:
Fox iCD was co-developed with Shimano on the Di2 platform. There's a climb/descend mode icon on the HUD screen. Synchro shift setup allows the left shifter to be used as a suspension switch. What I'm not sure about yet, and would like to know, is if fork & shock can be locked/unlocked independently. There are mixed reports on this with iCD as a stand-alone system, and nothing that I've found yet as far as full Di2 integration.
Closest I've heard on this front is that there's a plug-in ANT+ digi-box thing that will send gear position indication and maybe a few other things to compatible computers that PRO, Garmin & others have in the works. More road-targetted, 'cos there's no onboard indication there, but there is on the XTR head.
You end up with a single-speed, like you do when you break a mechanical cable. Front shifting dies first, due to the higher power load, then you lose the rear. But with an indicator right under your nose on the head display, you've gotta be pretty dumb to not notice if the battery needs a feed. There is a degree of crash protection built into the rear derailleur. Under sufficient force, the servo disengages from the derailleur body, allowing the derailleur to get pushed freely on its pivots. There's a restore function by way of holding a button on the head for a few seconds to reconnect the servo. It's not a complete failsafe, 'cos there are multiple ways to hit a derailleur, but it's a help.
The Duckmeister
Has a juicy midrange
The external "mini-pump" battery box/cable junction has one more port than there currently are compatible components (including Fox iCD). That just shouts, "hey! I can work a dropper post!!" :wink:
Art Vanderlay
Hourly daily
Damn right I can't afford it......I think the sram 1 x 11 is a better system.
flamshmizer
Likes Dirt
Too all those worried about battery running out, just charge it when you clean your chain. Apparently the battery lasts for 2 months or so of riding, so lets say 1 month to be safe. If you don't clean your chain once a month you don't deserve XTR anyway.
The Duckmeister
Has a juicy midrange
The pro roadies have been known to do the Tour de France and other three-week grand tours (3500-odd km average) on a single charge. Even with the more powerful motors in XTR slightly cutting battery life, the more normal among us will take vastly longer than three weeks to drain the battery.
Alo661
Likes Bikes and Dirt
People are worried about the battery running out on a wired system, I had a Lapierre with Ultegra Di2 (10spd), never charged the battery once in 8 months and doing 2000kms on it.
I was skeptical at first of Di2, but once you ride it, you'll keep it. Just matters if you can afford it!
If SRAM releases a wireless version, good on em, but have fun having to charge every single component individually and the battery life been only a few weeks max. Synching their Quarq Power meters can be a mission sometimes, but synching a whole drivetrain? I'd rather neck myself, rewiring Lapierre's Ei suspension is my limit. It'll never be as light or as reliable as a wired system.
It'll take a few years before major frame manufacturers release Di2-only framesets publicly. Santa Cruz will probably be the first to release a Di2 specific frame.
I was skeptical at first of Di2, but once you ride it, you'll keep it. Just matters if you can afford it!
If SRAM releases a wireless version, good on em, but have fun having to charge every single component individually and the battery life been only a few weeks max. Synching their Quarq Power meters can be a mission sometimes, but synching a whole drivetrain? I'd rather neck myself, rewiring Lapierre's Ei suspension is my limit. It'll never be as light or as reliable as a wired system.
It'll take a few years before major frame manufacturers release Di2-only framesets publicly. Santa Cruz will probably be the first to release a Di2 specific frame.
Just a matter of sticking adaptable ports in it. A lot of bikes will be basically ready to go.
Avanti have had their Ridgeline carbon 29er Di2 compatible for a while now, it just runs the same ports as their road bikes.
Alo661
Likes Bikes and Dirt
Talking about Di2 ONLY frames, like Time do and most brands with their TT bikes (Lapierre/BMC). They can't be adapted to run mechanical. It's piss easy to go from mech to Di2, just make rubber grommets to fill in the holes.
Another foreseeable problem with XTR is the seat-post battery and running a stealth dropper, not sure how that's going to work.
The Duckmeister
Has a juicy midrange
Which section of the trading area should I list a kidney & other superfluous organs for sale in? :flypig:
I'm thinking pretty seriously about getting it, but not for a couple of years......Main reason is just a little plan I've had on the go for about a year already. I have a "significant birthday" in a couple of years, and I want to build myself a really nice XTR-spec bike. This'll just make it really really nice. :music:
I'm thinking pretty seriously about getting it, but not for a couple of years......Main reason is just a little plan I've had on the go for about a year already. I have a "significant birthday" in a couple of years, and I want to build myself a really nice XTR-spec bike. This'll just make it really really nice. :music:
The Duckmeister
Has a juicy midrange
Mount the battery in the fork steerer - that's already being adapted as an option.
Alo661
Likes Bikes and Dirt
Havn't seen a bike with one mounted in the steerer yet, just EPS and Di2 batteries in the seat tube.
Where does the cable come out? Top cap?
The Duckmeister
Has a juicy midrange
cramhobart
Likes Dirt
There was a significant push back against e-bikes in another forum, some of which was because they used batteries to reduce the fitness requirement of the sport- their seems to be no similar push back against using batteries to reduce the skill requirement.
crank1979
Likes Bikes and Dirt
Timing your shifting will still be important. Besides mechanical aptitude in adjusting cables, how does electronic shifting reduce skill when riding?
tomacropod
Likes Dirt
Indexed shifting and suspension systems already reduced the skill requirement, but improved accessibility and speed. There were complaints about that, but just a minority. Would you put most people on a rigid mtb with friction shifters?
- joel
Ultra Lord
Hurts. Requires Money. And is nerdy.
No. Single speed that bitch and we have a winner.
In a perfect world everyone would be on steel rigid ss. With 26", 1 1/8" steerers and semi slicks with 2.2 being large rubber. Disk brakes are an unnecessary luxury. The bike industry is fundamentally fucked in the head with too much progression. stagnation for the win.
Back on topic, I'm that guy on a ss with skinny's rolled up to the knees cruising arpund town with a soy latte as a constant companion. Sans beard alas, the creepy blonde moe creeps me out let alone anyone else. My addiction to wanky bars and craft beer, not to mention a personal loan for a full body tat means electronic gears are out of my price range, but if the interface had twitter and snapchat I'd be all over that shit like a rash.
In summary, this discussion is pointless, gears are lame and your all victims to fashion.